On 25 February 2026 the Bureau of Indian Standards issued the BIS (Conformity Assessment) Amendment Regulations, 2026, making important changes to a conformity assessment system that has been in use for many years. The most closely watched change is that the validity of a Standard Mark licence has been formally extended from two years to five.

Key changes

Under the new regulations:

A licence granted for the first time is valid for a maximum of five years;

A renewed licence is likewise valid for a maximum of five years.

Previously, BIS licences generally had to be renewed every two years, which was procedurally cumbersome and time-consuming.

Points for companies to note

Although the validity period has been extended, the payment arrangements have changed at the same time:

Fees are now paid annually in advance;

If payment is late, the licence is suspended for 90 days;

If the fees and late payment charges are still not paid within those 90 days, the licence is automatically cancelled.

One reminder: a longer validity period does not mean the licence can be left unattended. Paying on time each year is the key to keeping a certificate valid.

The BIS reform sends a clear signal: while safeguarding product safety and quality, reduce the friction costs of compliance for companies as far as possible.